The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-05-16
pARNELL's GRANDFATHER.
A Story of Him Told by Ex-Postmaster
General Thomas L. James

General InOmaS l.. James.
NES YORK, May 14--"Come in and hear
this story" said the Hon. Thomas L. James,
as / stopped at the door of the directors
room OF the Lincoln National Banl, one day
this week. "You know Pay Director Gun
pinghan of the navy, of course He says
that he has letter from Mr.. Parnell which,
when compared with the London Times
forgery, proves that the original of the lat
ter is spurious"
yes" said Mr. Cunningham, land there
Is an interesting bit of history connected
with the letter I have. | said to Mr. Par
nell one day that he came honestly by his
hatred of British oppression, for his grand
father, Rear Admiral Charles Stewart, was
one of the best fighters who ever shed iustre
on the United States navy, and the only
officer since John Paul Jones who with
one ship in a fair fight captured
two of the enemy. He didn't seem to
know very much about it, but the
country was wild with enthusiasm over it
at the time 1t was in February, 1875 as
you remember, that Capt Stewards ship,
the Constitution, fell in with the British
ships of war Cyane, thirtyfour guns, and
Levant, twenty-one guns, OFF the coast of
Spain, and after a fight of forty minutes
captured both Stewart lost three men
killed and thirteen wounded, while the
enemy lost thirty-five killed and forty-two
wounded. The Levant was subsequently re-
captured by the British squadron of three
ships which reached the American position
under cover Of a dense fog, but Stewart
saved his own ship and the Cyane and kept
his prisoners. When he returned to this
country he was presented by the Common
Council Of New York with the freedom of
the city in gold box, and with his officers,
was entertained at great public dinner.
The Legislature of Pennsylvania voted him
q gold-hilted sword, and Congress rendered
him vote OF thanks and ordered a gold
medal struck in his honor.
Il told Mr.. Parnell this. and that | had
his grandfather's commission as Commo-
dore, signed by President Andrew Jackson.
That commission is a curiosity. In the first
place, it was written by hand; all the COM
missions of United States officers were writ
ten before the time of President Van Buren,,
after that they were printed il ordinary
type until the time of Gen. Grant. Now
they are beautifully engraved. The parch-
ment in Andr w JacKson's time was coarse,
like leather, and almost as thick as this
sheet of blotting paper. Jackson'S sigma
ture on Com. Stewards commission is a
remarkable one. The first initial is at
least three inches long and correspondingly
heavy, and the remainder of the name is
proportional to the first letter. You can
to write it, said: Now this is for my old
friend Charlie Stewart, and I'll give him
signature Jhat viii show him that mean it.
'Old Hickory did things for effect, some
times, you know. Chief Justice fancy told
me OF a remarkable instance. He was with
Jackson when committee from Pniladel-
phia was announced who desired to see him
about the United States Bank. He was in
most affable mood but said to fancy: I
must prepare myself for their reception
He walked upand down the room for min
ute or two, ran his fingers through his hair,
put his clothing awry and grew red in the
face When the committee came in he
roared at and builied them, and after they
had gone asked fancy if he didn't think he
had properly impressed them!
Il offered to give Mr. Parnell his grand
fathers commission, and when he received
it he wrote me the letter referred to. Good
day. I'm off for Washington.
z. L. WHITE.